HCC students inspire at Men of Honor art exhibition

Houston Community College celebrated the 2nd Bi-Annual Men of Honor art exhibition, a Minority Male Initiative (MMI) with an opening reception Friday, April 5. The exhibition showcases exceptional art from students and faculty advisors who show promise as creative workers in Houston’s growing creative economy. In attendance were HCC Trustees Bruce A. Austin, District II and Carroll G. Robinson, District IV.

The exhibition enabled students to become involved and share their talent, a goal set by Men of Honor. The HCC Men of Honor organization’s primary focus is to facilitate student’s leadership development, peer support and student involvement through mentoring. The students worked with advisors and mentors to help their visions evolve from an idea to reality.

Professors nominated promising and talented students, and the students, in turn, nominated a member of the HCC faculty as their mentor. Bryan Bauhs, Program Coordinator for the Art Department at Northwest College, collected the works, photographs of the art, artist’s statements, bios and inspirations in preparation for the exhibit. It was an effort that required many emails and helping hands, which resulted in a successful show.

Each student was publicly recognized and received a financial scholarship to encourage their creative talent. Many of the students have plans to pursue a degree in art in hope of sharing their creative vision with the world.

David Mora, an Art student at Northwest College, received the honor of having his work picked as the centerpiece for the event. His painting, “Two Nature’s at War,” was originally a painting he created for himself to convey his love of lions and how they symbolize power, strength and royalty. Mora is unsure of his future, but hopes to attend the University of Houston to continue his art studies and earn his bachelor’s degree.

Reyes’s sculpture, “Ama Tierra,” depicts Mother Earth coming out of the ground, her bodice completely covered in leaves. Its purpose is to inspire its observers to think about earth and its beauty. The sculpture’s construction is reminiscent of a piñata, weighing only four pounds, yet has more durability.

Reyes was nominated by Professor Michael Bolden and named Bennie Flores, another artist in the exhibit, as his mentor. He is not a stranger to showcasing his work, having participated in past student shows and the Project Row Houses exhibit for the Summer Artist Studio Residency 2012. His photographs have even been on display in China as part of the Ming Yao photography festival that showcases the best of American colleges.

The exhibition was curated by the HCC Art Discipline Committee, including efforts from Bryan Bauhs, Chairman; Aundrea Matthews, Gallery Manager and installation by Robert Hodge Studios. The Northwest Jazz Ensemble performed.